Contango ORE Announces Production Results for the Quarter Ended June 30, 2025

FAIRBANKS, Alaska, July 30, 2025 /PRNewswire/ - Contango ORE, Inc. ("Contango" or the "Company") (NYSE American: CTGO) announces production results at the Peak Gold JV for the quarter ended June 30, 2025 ("Q2-2025") and provides other updates. The Company expects to release its financial results for Q2-2025 on August 13, 2025 followed by a webcast hosted by senior management on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 1:00pm EST/10:00am PST.

Rick Van Nieuwenhuyse, President and CEO of the Company, stated, "Production during the second quarter of 2025 continued to exceed quarterly guidance with 17,764 ounces sold and cash costs of $1,416 per ounce of gold sold and all-in-sustaining costs ("AISC") of $1,548 of gold sold, well below the 2025 target of $1,625 per ounce. During the quarter we delivered 11,900 ounces to the hedge contract using the Carry Trade, effectively reducing our hedge balance to 62,900 ounces as of the date of this release."

Production Results for Q2-2025

Mr. Van Nieuwenhuyse continued, "Mining operations at Manh Choh are progressing as planned. Guidance for our 30% share of the Peak Gold JV's 2025 production remains at 60,000 ounces of gold, with life-of-mine ("LOM") average annual production expected to be 58,750 ounces of gold per year to 2029 and AISC estimated at $1,400 per ounce of gold sold. In addition, as previously reported, the Company received $54 million in cash distributions in the first half of 2025, and expect total cash distributions for 2025 from the Peak Gold JV to be in excess of $95 million, assuming a $3,100 per ounce spot gold price for the remainder of 2025. In mid-August, the Peak Gold JV is expected to start processing Manh Choh project's third campaign of 2025 and are guiding to 15,000 ounces of production to Contango's account for this campaign."

During Q2-2025 and subsequent to the period end, the Company has the following updates:

• Manh Choh Project:
  
  
  • During Q2-2025 the Peak Gold JV, operated by a subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporations ("Kinross"), (on a 100% basis) processed 255,000 tons of ore with an average grade of 0.220 ounces ("oz") per ton and containing approximately 56,000 oz of gold.  Gold recovery averaged 93%, resulting in approximately 52,000 oz of recovered gold, of which Contango's 30% share amounts to 15,700 oz of gold. 
    
    
  • During Q2-2025 17,764 ounces of gold were delivered to Contango and sold during the period with another 750 ounces of gold remaining in recoverable inventory at the end of the quarter.
    
    
  • For Q2-2025, cash costs on a by-product basis per ounce were $1,416, and AISC on a by-product basis, per ounce was $1,548 per ounce. The increase in AISC from the first quarter of 2025 compared to Q2-2025 is primarily a result of sustaining capital expenditures on the planned tractor (truck) replacements and the exploration drilling program at Manh Choh.
    
    
  • During Q2-2025, the Peak Gold JV paid cash distributions to the Company in the amount of $30 million ("M").
    
    
• Johnson Tract Project:
  
  
  • During Q2-2025, the Company continued with ongoing work to permit the underground exploration drift and baseline environmental and engineering work for the road and barge landing easements. Field crews started at the end of July 2025.
    
    
• Repayment of Debt, Reduction of Hedge Contracts and Marketable Securities:
  
  
  • The Company's unrestricted cash position as of June 30, 2025 was $36.5 M.
    
    
  • Credit Facility:
    • During Q2-2025, Contango repaid $8.2 M on the Facility, reducing the outstanding principal balance by 21% to $30.1 M.
      
      
    • Subsequent to period end, on July 11, 2025, Contango repaid $7 M on the Facility, reducing the outstanding principal balance by an additional 23% to $23.1 M.
      
      
  • During Q2-2025, the Company sold all gold at spot price and simultaneously locked in a forward price with its lenders on 11,900 ounces of gold related to the July 31, 2025 hedge maturity date (referred to as a "Carry Trade"). The Carry Trade will be settled on July 31, 2025 with a net payment of $15.3 M from Contango in exchange for the reduction of 11,900 ounces of gold under the hedge agreement.  As of July 31, 2025, the hedge agreement balance will be 62,900 ounces.
    
    
  • Onyx Shares:
    
    • As a result of acquiring Highgold Mining Inc. in July 2024, the Company owns 5 M shares in Onyx Gold Corp. ("Onyx"), which had a value of Cdn$10.4 M as of June 30, 2025.
      
      
  • Lucky Shot Royalty:
    • Subsequent to the period ending June 30, 2025, a Mining Royalty Deed was quitclaimed to the Company on July 1, 2025, whereby the Company acquired an existing 0.5% net smelter return royalty ("NSR") from a private entity in the amount of $250,000.

CONFERENCE CALL AND WEBCAST

Contango will host a conference call and webcast to discuss the second quarter results on Thursday, August 14, 2025, at 1:00pm EST / 10:00am PST. Participants may join the webcast using the following call-in details: https://6ix.com/event/contango-ore-q2-update.

ABOUT CONTANGO

Contango is a NYSE American listed company that engages in exploration for gold and associated minerals in Alaska. Contango holds a 30% interest in the Peak Gold JV, which leases approximately 675,000 acres of land for exploration and development on the Manh Choh project, with the remaining 70% owned by KG Mining (Alaska), Inc., an indirect subsidiary of Kinross Gold Corporation, operator of the Peak Gold JV. The Company and its subsidiaries also have (i) a lease on the Johnson Tract project from the underlying owner, CIRI, (ii) a lease on the Lucky Shot project from the underlying owner, Alaska Hardrock Inc., (iii) 100% ownership of approximately 8,600 acres of peripheral State of Alaska mining claims, and (iv) a 100% interest in approximately 145,000 acres of State of Alaska mining claims that give Contango the exclusive right to explore and develop minerals on these lands. Additional information can be found on our web page at www.contangoore.com.

FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS

This press release contains forward-looking statements regarding Contango that are intended to be covered by the safe harbor for "forward-looking statements" provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, based on Contango's current expectations and includes statements regarding future results of operations, quality and nature of the asset base, the assumptions upon which estimates are based and other expectations, beliefs, plans, objectives, assumptions, strategies or statements about future events or performance (often, but not always, using words such as "expects", "projects", "anticipates", "plans", "estimates", "potential", "possible", "probable", or "intends", or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "will", "should", or "could" be taken, occur or be achieved). Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates and projections that involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause actual results to differ materially from those reflected in the statements. These risks include, but are not limited to: the risks of the exploration and the mining industry (for example, operational risks in exploring for and developing mineral reserves; risks and uncertainties involving geology; the speculative nature of the mining industry; the uncertainty of estimates and projections relating to future production, costs and expenses; the volatility of natural resources prices, including prices of gold and associated minerals; the existence and extent of commercially exploitable minerals in properties acquired by Contango or the Peak Gold JV; ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Peak Gold JV; potential delays or changes in plans with respect to exploration or development projects or capital expenditures; the interpretation of exploration results and the estimation of mineral resources; the loss of key employees or consultants; health, safety and environmental risks and risks related to weather and other natural disasters); uncertainties as to the availability and cost of financing; Contango's inability to retain or maintain its relative ownership interest in the Peak Gold JV; inability to realize expected value from acquisitions; inability of our management team to execute its plans to meet its goals; the extent of disruptions caused by an outbreak of disease, such as the COVID-19 pandemic; and the possibility that government policies may change, political developments may occur or governmental approvals may be delayed or withheld, including as a result of presidential and congressional elections in the U.S. or the inability to obtain mining permits. Additional information on these and other factors which could affect Contango's exploration program or financial results are included in Contango's other reports on file with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Investors are cautioned that any forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from the projections in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the estimates and opinions of management at the time the statements are made. Contango does not assume any obligation to update forward-looking statements should circumstances or management's estimates or opinions change.